Post light



March 19, 1968 I BOBRICK I 3,374,343

POST LIGHT Fi led Oct. 5, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l /N VENTOR I Mme/1 51.1. BOBR/CK i BY M. BOBRICK March 19, 1968 POST LIGHT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.

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BY Mia/mus) & f/aeuaAA ze United States Patent 3,374,343 POST LIGHT Mitchell Bobrick, 605 Erskine Drive, Pacific Palisades, Calif. 90272 Filed Get. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 583,728 Claims. (Cl. 2403) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tubular lamp is supported on a post and has a shade peripherally surrounding said lamp. The shade has a series of adjacent and separate segments around the lamp extending angularly outwardly and downwardly, with a supporting arm near a lower end of each segment inwardly supporting said segment lower end away from the lamp. The shade segments and supporting arms may be pivotal for a collapse thereof closely against the lamp and post.

This invention relates to a post light, and more particularly, to a post light which may be formed collapsible for convenience in storage and shipment, and may be quickly and simply erected at the site of installation to function as a conventional post light. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a post light of the foregoing character which, after substantially complete assembly thereof, may be inserted in a collapsed condition into a packing tube for storage and shipment, and upon removal from said storage tube at site of installation, may be quickly and easily converted from said collapsed condition into an erected condition without the need for special tools and skills and for functioning in the same manner as conventional post lights.

Various prior forms of post lights have been provided of the type having a tubular lamp enclosing some form of lighting means, said lamp being mounted at the upper end of a post and said post lights being adapted for installation around residences and like structures. Furthermore, certain of the prior post lights have included various form of shades mounted extending outwardly around the lamp, both for functional light shading and decorative purposes. Where the surrounding shades are provided, in view of the outward extension thereof from the lamp and post, the peripheral dimensions of the construction are greatly increased over that for only the lamp and post.

The conventional method of assembly, shipment and erection of such prior post light, including said shades, has been to separately assembly the lamp with or without the shade assembled thereon, separately pack the assembled lamp in a necessarily large carton where the shade is assembled thereon or the shade in a separate necessarily large carton where the shade is still separate from the la1np, separately pack the pole, and ship the two or three cartons containing the post light components to the customer, one of said cartons necessarily being of large dimensions for the enclosure of said shade. If the entire assembly is completed at the factory prior to shipment, an extremely large shipping carton is required, the lateral dimensions being determined by the peripheral dimensions of the shade and the length being determined by the combined length of the post and lamp. In either event, therefore, both shipping and handling of such prior post lights has been relatively expensive and difficult, both because of the size of the cartons and because of the multiplicity of cartons where the post light is shipped disassembled.

It is an object of any invention, therefore, to provide a post light of the type having a shade mounted on the post lamp with which the shade is of a completely unique character and may be formed for virtually complete preassembly of the entire post light at the factory, the subseice quent shipment thereof not requiring a shipping carton of excessive size, as with the prior constructions. The lamp post shade of the present invention is formed of a series of circumferentially separate, but circumferentially adjacent, segments surrounding the lamp and post, with each of said segments preferably having a supporting arm extending from the segment inwardly to the post. Furthermore, each of the segments of the shade may be pivotally connected to both the lamp and the supporting arms thereof capable of providing the shade and supporting arms in a collapsed condition, although preassembled with the post light during shipment thereof, yet capable of being moved to the erected position easily and simply at the site of installation.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a post light of the foregoing type which may be packed, stored and shipped in an assembled, but shade collapsed, condition, thereby requiring a carton having lateral dimensions only slightly larger than those of the lamp and post alone. In the collapsed condition of the shade and supporting arms, both the shade segments and the supporting arms therefor extend axially along and outwardly adjacent the lamp and post. With the shade segments and supporting arms in said collapsed condition, therefore, the entire assembled post light may be endwise slidably inserted in a packing tube for said storage and shipment, said packing tube having lateral dimensions only slightly larger than the post and lamp alone.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a post light of the foregoing type wherein all or any part thereof, including the segmental shade, may be formed of plastic so as to provide the inherent economies of such plastic, both in construction and assembly. For instance, where the segmental shade is formed of plastic, the pivotal connection thereof to the lamp may be provided by reduced dimension sections of said segments. Also, the inner ends of the segment supporting arms may be formed with projections having securing means directly thereon for reception through openings in one or both of the of the lamp and post so that once the shade segments and supporting arms are moved to the erected position after shipment thereof, the inner ends of the supporting arms will remain secured in said erected position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, part in section, showing an embodiment of the post light of the present invention in a collapsed and packaged condition;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the broken line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a reduced, top plan view of the post light of FIG. I removed from the packing tube and in erected condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken along the broken line 44 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the broken line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the broken line 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along the broken line 77 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken from FIG. 4 and illustrating the form of pivot means for pivotally mounting the shade segments on the lamp.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the post light of the present invention shown therein includes the major components of a post, generally indicated at 10, having a tubular lamp, generally indicated at 12, mounted at a post upper end 14, said lamp having a segmental shade, generally indicated at 16, mounted thereon and projecting angularly outwardly therefrom. Virtually all or almost any part of the post light may be formed of either metal or plastic materials, and where the materials are plastic, it is preferred to form all of the components with the exception of the lamp 12, of plastics, such as polypropylene, and the lamp of acrylic plastics, although it is not intended to limit the principles of the present invention to the particular materials suggested, whether metallic or plastic. The particular form of the post light illustrated may be substantially totally formed of plastic materials.

The post is merely a hollow cylindrical post and the lamp 12 is likewise hollow cylindrical, having a lower collar 18 telescoped downwardly over the post upper end 14 and a conical cover 20 secured to an upper edge 22 of lamp side walls 24. The lamp 12 internally mounts a preferably low voltage electric light 26 substantially in the conventional manner. Furthermore, the lamp side walls 24 are translucent to permit the illumination from the light 26 to pass therethrough.

The shade 16 includes a series of circumferentially adjacent, generally radially projecting and circumferentially separated segments 28, said segments giving a generally petal-like effect in top plan view, as shown in FIG. 3, and each being integrally joined to a central segment supporting ring through reduced sections 32. With the segments 28 and segment supporting ring 30 being formed of plastic, therefore, the entire segment and segment supporting ring assembly may be formed of a single, substantially flat molded part, although the segments are preferably molded arcuate in circumferential cross section, and the segment supporting ring may be radially expanded and telescoped over the lamp side walls 24, as indicated by the phantom lines 34 in FIG. 4. The segment supporting ring 30 is brought into engagement with a flange 36 on the lamp side walls 24 for the secure positioning of the segment supporting ring surrounding the lamp side walls, thereby positioning the shade segments 28 angularly upwardly and downwardly pivotal through the reduced sections 32 relative to the post 10 and lamp 12.

Thus, the shade segments 28 are pivotally connected at inner ends 38 thereof to the lamp 12, pivotally movable angularly upwardly and downwardly between an erected position forming a shade for the lamp 12 wherein said segments project angularly outwardly and downwardly from the lamp, as shown in FIG. 4, and a collapsed position wherein the segments are pivoted angularly downwardly and inwardly to extend substantially downwardly and outwardly adjacent the lamp and post 10, as shown in FIG. 1. In the erected or expanded position of the segments 28, side edges 40 thereof are preferably circumferentially spaced apart, and in the collapsed position, said segment side edges will circumferentially overlap, as shown in FIG. 1. The arcuate contour of the segments 28 not only provides an aesthetically pleasing appearance in the erected or expanded position, but also provides for overlapping compactness in the collapsed position, of advantage as will be hereinafter discussed.

Outer ends 42 of the segments 28 are pivotally connected through sets of spaced tabs 44 to slotted buttons 46 formed integrally on outer ends 48 of supporting arms 50, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, one of the supporting arms being provided for each of the segments. The supporting arms 50 are preferably formed T-shaped in cross section, as shown in FIG. 6, and the co-operative arrangement between the segment tabs 44 and the supporting arm slotted bottons 46 is such that the arm slotted buttons will snap into pivotal engagement with the segment tabs providing the supporting arms angularly pivotal relative to the segments. When the segments 28 are in the collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 1, the supporting arms 50 will pivot angularly downwardly to extend axially along the post 10, permitting the angular inward pivoting of the segments, and when the segments are in erected or expanded position, as shown in FIG. 4, the supporting arms may be pivoted angularly upwardly to extend generally radially inwardly to the post and the lamp lower collar 18.

Inner ends 52 of the supporting arms are formed with flanged abutment portions 54, having arcuate abutment surfaces 56 and projections 58 having serrated side edges 60, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7. Thus, when the shade segments 28 are moved from the collapsed position, shown in FIG. 1, to the erected or expanded position, as shown in FIG. 4, and the supporting arms 50 are pivoted angularly inwardly, the supporting arm projections 58 are inserted into and through aligned openings 62 and 64 formed through the lamp lower Collar 18 and the post 10, a set of said openings 62 and 64 being provided appropriately positioned for each of the supporting arms 50. The supporting arm projections 58 are inserted through the openings 62 and 64 until the abutment surfaces 56 of the supporting arm abutment portions 54 overlie tightly against the peripheral surface of the lamp lower collar 18, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, and the reverse extension of the projection serrated side edges will retain the supporting arm inner ends 52 secured with the lamp lower collar and the post 10, thereby retaining and supporting the shade segments 28 in the expanded position.

The method of packing and shipping the collapsible post light of the present invention, therefore, is to virtually totally assemble said post light at the factory in the form shown in FIG. 1 and with the inner ends 52 of the supporting arms 50 not yet engaged with the lamp lower collar 18 and the post 10. The post light in such collapsed condition may then be inserted endwise or axially slidably into a conventional packing tube 66, said packing tube preferably being formed of pasteboard. It will be noted in FIG. 1 wherein the post light is shown packed in the packing tube 66 that the lateral dimensions of the packing tube are only slightly larger than the lateral dimensions of the post 10 and lamp 12, the shade segments 28 and supporting arms 50 being substantially totally collapsed adjacent the post 10 and lamp 12.

The post light may be stored and shipped in such packed and collapsed condition and upon arrival at the site of erection, the post light is merely slidably and axially withdrawn from the packing tube 66. The inner ends 52 of the supporting arms 50 are then moved upwardly along the post 10 and the lamp lower collar 18 until the supporting arm projections 58 are outwardly adjacent the lamp and post openings 62 and 64, moving the shade segments 28 angularly upwardly and outwardly to the erected or expanded position shown in FIG. 4. Finally, the supporting arm projections 58 are inserted in the openings 62 and 64, as previously described, to secure the supporting arms 50 with the post 10 and the lamp lower collar 18, retaining the shade segments 28 in the final erected position shown.

Thus, according to the present invention, I have provided a collapsible post light construction having, in the erected condition, the usual outwardly projecting shade 16 for the lamp 12, yet virtually the entire post light may be assembled at the factory, may be packed for storage and shipment in a relatively small dimension packing tube 66 and may be quickly and easily fully erected at the site of erection without complications and without the necessity of special skills or tools. Furthermore, the configuration of the shade 16 for the lamp 12 is unique and aesthetically pleasing. I have provided, therefore, consumer cost savings in all of manufacturing, storage, shipment and erection.

I claim:

1. In a post light, the combination of: a lamp supporting post; a tubular lamp mounted on said post and having lighting means thereon for lighting said lamp, said lamp having side Walls; and a shade secured to one of said post and lamp peripherally surrounding said lamp, said shade having a series of circumferentially adjacent and separate segments around said lamp, said shade segments extending generally angularly outwardly and downwardly around said lamp side walls, each of said segments including side edges circumferentially spaced from side edges of circumferentially adjacent of said segments, means supporting said shade segments in said angular extension including an inner edge portion of each of said segments connected to one of said post and lamp side walls with a supporting arm connected to an outer edge portion of each of said segments extending inwardly and connected to at least one of said post and lamp.

2. A post light as defined in claim 1 in which said segments are arcuate in circumferential cross section; and in which said inner edge portion of each of said segments is pivotally connected to one of said post and lamp for pivotal upward and downward angular movement of said each segment relative to said lamp, said supporting arm being pivotally connected to said outer edge portion of each of said segments for pivotal upward and downward angular movement relative to said each segment.

3. In a post light, the combination of: a lamp supporting post; a tubular lamp mounted on said post and having lighting means thereon for lighting said lamp, said lamp having side walls; and a shade secured to one of said post and lamp peripherally surrounding said lamp, said shade having a series of circumferentially adjacent and separate segments around said lamp, said shade segments extending generally angularly outwardly and downwardly around said lamp side walls, means supporting said shade segments in said angular extension including an inner edge portion of each of said segments pivotally connected to one of said post and lamp for pivotal upward and downward angular movement of said each segment relative to said lamp and a supporting arm pivotally connected to an outer edge portion of each of said segments for pivotal upward and downward angular movement relative to said each segment with each of said supporting arms extending inwardly and being connected to one of said post and lamp.

4. In a post light, the combination of: a lamp supporting post; a tubular lamp mounted on an upper end of said post and having lighting means therein for lighting said lamp, said lamp having a top cover and side walls; and a shade secured to and peripherally surrounding said lamp side walls spaced below said top cover, said shade having a series of circumferentially adjacent and separate segments around said lamp side walls, said shade segments extending uniformly angularly outwardly and downwardly around said lamp side walls, means supporting said shade segments in said angular extension including a supporting ring telescoped over said lamp side walls with each of said segments having an inner edge portion connected to said supporting ring and a support arm connected to an outer edge portion of each of said segments extending inwardly connected to at least said post.

5. A post light as defined in claim 4 in which said supporting ring is a plastic material supporting ring secured surrounding said lamp side walls, said segments being formed of plastic material and having inner edge portions integrally connected to said supporting ring through reduced sections providing said segments pivotal angularly upwardly and downwardly relative to said supporting ring, said supporting arm being pivotally connected to said outer edge portion of each of said segments pivotal angularly upwardly and downwardly relative to said each segment.

6. A post light as defined in claim 4 in which said lamp terminates downwardly in a lower collar, said lamp collar being telescoped downwardly over said post upper end; and in which said supporting ring is a plastic material supporting ring secured surrounding said lamp side walls, said segments being formed of plastic material and having inner edge portions integrally connected to said supporting ring through reduced sections providing said segments pivotal angularly upwardly and downwardly relative to said supporting ring, said supporting arm being pivotally connected to said outer edge portion of each of said segments pivotal angularly upwardly and downwardly relative to said each segment, said supporting anns extending inwardly from said segments to said lamp lower collar and having inner end projections secured inwardly through aligned openings of said lamp lower collar and said post retaining said lamp on said post upper end.

7. In a post light, the combination of: a lamp supporting post; a tubular lamp mounted on an upper end of said post and having lighting means therein for lighting said lamp, said lamp having a top cover and side walls; and a shade secured to and peripherally surrounding said lamp side walls spaced below said top cover, said shade having a series of circumterentially adjacent and separate segments around said lamp side walls, said shade segment extending uniformly angularly outwardly and downwardly around said lamp side walls, side edges on each of said segments circumferentially spaced from side edges of adjacent segments, means supporting said shade segments in said angular extension including inner edge portions of each of said segments pivotally connected to said lamp side walls for upward and downward angular pivoting of said segments relative to said lamp side Walls with a supporting arm pivotally connected to an outer edge portion of each of said segments pivotal angularly upwardly and downwardly relative to said each segment and extending inwardly connected to one of said post and lamp.

8. In a method of packing and erecting a collapsible post light having a lamp on an upper end of a post with circumferentially separated shade segments pivotally connected at segment inner edge portions circumferentially surrounding said lamp and with supporting arms pivotally connected to outer segment edge portions, the steps of: pivotally collapsing said lamp shade segments around said lamp and post, with said supporting arms extending from said segments generally axially along and with inner ends outwardly adjacent said post; endwise slidably inserting said post light in said collapsed condition axially into a packing tube; withdrawing said post light in said collapsed condition from said packing tube; pivoting said lamp shade segments from said collapsed condition to extend angularly outwardly relative to said lamp; pivoting said support arms relative to said lamp shade segments to extend inwardly to at least one of said lamp and post; and connecting said supporting arm free inner ends to said at least one of said lamp and post.

9. The method as defined in claim 8 in which said step of pivotally collapsing said lamp shade segments includes pivotally collapsing said lamp shade segments downwardly around said lamp and post; and in which said step of pivoting said lamp shade segments from said collapsed condition includes pivoting said lamp shade segments upwardly and outwardly from said collapsed condition.

10. The method as defined in claim 8 in which said step of pivotally collapsing said lamp shade segments includes pivotally collapsing said lamp shade segments downwardly around said lamp, with said supporting arms extending downwardly from said segments; in which said step of pivoting said lamp shade segments from said collapsed condition includes pivoting said lamp shade segments upwardly and outwardly from said collapsed condition; and in which said step of pivoting said supporting arms relative to said lamp shade segments includes pivoting said supporting arm free inner ends upwardly and inwardly relative to said outer segment edge portions to said at least one of said lamp and post.

(References on following page) 7 8 References Cited 3,194,952 7/1965 Wells 240-3 UNITED STATES PATENTS NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

452,638 5/1891 Gartncr 240103 1,509,744 9/1924 Wilson 240-103 5 G. M. HOFFMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

